Chapter 35: Xian Zhan's Daring Hypothesis

Just as he spoke, a swift figure came from behind him. In the space of a moment an arc of silver brightness pierced the air.

A few moments later, several heads shot up into the air in a row, their eyes open wide as if in shock, not understanding what had happened. The shock only set in when their headless body stayed there with eyes that mirrored the beginning of panic. But too late-they could no longer utter any sound.

Thud, thud!

The heads thudded onto the floor. Blood flowed in two separate gushes, bursting out suddenly in all directions.

"Ahhh!"

The horrific scene that unfolded sent the onlookers into a frenzy. Screams rent the air as people ran in all directions seeking to get away from that bloody scene.

Xian Zhan carelessly folded up his sword, the nonchalant nudity in his eyes finding such a sight beneath him scanning over the body piles. People like these didn't deserve his time or energy. With not even so much as blinking in their direction, he turned to walk away, starting to head towards his family estate.

"Seriously going to leave the family, are you?" Xian Yue asked curiously, but also with a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Yes," Xian Zhan said, his voice resolute. "Well, as you said, the Wang family has been a thorn in our sides for far too long. It's about time they are dealt with permanently."

He took in a second of air and then continued, "Besides, with you as the patriarch, there won't be any problems. I am going out to seek new challenges. It's about time I gathered some resources to support the family's future growth."

Xian Yue nodded his head, understanding what was meant. "It's wise to seek out new experiences. With your current strength, no one in the Southern Domain can stand against you. If you grow further, you may even be able to dominate the entire Star Domain."

Xian Yue was lost in a distance-gazing musing over the future of the family. "Our Xian family cannot dwell in this place eternally. When the time comes, we shall leave behind this small world and seek greater realms."

The family's money was rich, and they owned spiritual stones; it was clear then, the next thing to be done would be to send out the younger generation to train. Xian Yue readily agreed as the head of the household to the plan.

"In that case," Xian Zhan said, "I'll leave soon. No need for proper goodbyes when the time comes."

Xian Yue nodded simply. "Good."

Xian Zhan said his goodbyes to his family members and closest companions before moving on to pack up. Then, standing at the entrance of the family gates, he prepared himself to set off. Xian Yue came to take his leave and looked at him with a tinge of jealousy as he disappeared into the distance of the horizon.

"One day," whispered Xian Yue, "when will it be our turn to leave the family and go train outside?"

Another of his kinsman, standing nearby, shook his head. "Our strength is still too weak. We wouldn't even survive crossing the Feihua Mountains, much less make it to the outer cities. Xian Zhan was lucky back then-if it weren't for his luck, he might have ended up like many of the others: a pile of bones in those dangerous mountains."

The Feihua Mountains surrounded Feihua City: a thick, treacherous, and dripping-in-deadly creatures mountain range. Few could leave the city in their lifetime. Only the luckiest or the strongest would make it through alive.

That was a lifetime ago for Xian Zhan. His current cultivation had long surpassed those dangers. He was far beyond such challenges.

As Xian Zhan flew through the air on his spirit beast, Bai Lie asked curiously, "Master, what's the real strength of your clan leader?"

Xian Zhan's eyes tightened a little at the memory. "I don't know, but it is scary beyond words."

Xian Yue was not to be underestimated. He had defeated so easily a remnant soul of a Great Emperor and even made a Supreme Emperor Weapon bow to him. Xian Zhan could never imagine just how powerful his brother was.

He looked up into the sky and saw a tremendous, golden list hang in mid-air, the very top with the flame of an incandescent light shining like a diamond. "Could it be him?" Xian Zhan whispered to himself.

That name, Xian Yue, seemed impossible, incomprehensible. After all, how does anyone become that powerful in just ten plus years?

The ancient sword, the Feihua Emperor Sword, resting in Xian Zhan's sea of consciousness spoke for the first time for a long time. "Master, the aura coming from that person doesn't resemble the Great Emperor Realm to me. If I'm facing a real Great Emperor, I won't feel this level of fear. But when I detected that person's presence, it was as if my existence could be shattered with but a mere glance. It was scary!"

Xian Zhan's heart trembled.She had never heard the Emperor Sword speak like that before. If Xian Yue's power was even stronger than a Great Emperor, she didn't want to ask what level he had reached.

Of late, there were a lot of things which went through the mind of Xian Zhan, but most of them weren't pleasant to think about. Still, she nodded automatically, her hand clapped against her fists, and tried to calm down.

Just as she did so, an elder almost at critical age teared himself away from the group, racing frantically towards Xian Yue, jade slip in his hand.

"Patriarch, there is news from Xian Ran!" said the elder, out of breath.

"Xian Ran?" Xian Yue asked astonished. "Didn't he join the Lingyun Sect? We haven't heard anything from him for decades."

The elder nodded. "Yes indeed, so much time has passed, but at last, he sent word. He is safe, but there's more. It seems that the Lingyun Sect is soon to enter into conflict with another sect - Cangwu Sect".

Xian Yue's face set into a little darker hue. "Conflict?"

"Well," said the old one. "Both sects have their bases in the Feihua Mountains. Xian Ran threatens to spill that fight over into Feihua City. He tells us to get out of the city so we won't get caught up in that impending doom."

Xian Yue furrowed his eyebrows. "Xian Ran has always been a diligent and thoughtful child. It is fortunate that he's still watching over the family, even at such a distance."

The elder nodded. "Yes, he's been quite fortunate. But Lingyun and Cangwu are small sects aren't they? I've heard that they're under the jurisdiction of the Yunxiao Dynasty. Their strongest elders are only in the Nascent soul Realm, while their Sect Masters are stronger but have probably just managed to reach the Soul formation Realm."

During those days, the Xian family would have been very anxious about this. The fight between two sects could easily breakout and endanger the lives of clan members. However, nowadays, the Xian family had no reason to be afraid of them.

A faint smile appeared on Xian Yue's face. "Yes, even without my interfering, they wouldn't dare lay a finger on us."

The elder nodded his head. "That is correct. If this war does come to Feihua City, we can fend for ourselves. The young generation also has a chance here to prove themselves in a real battle."

Xian Yue nodded his head in approval. "That is correct. If the war arrives, let it be at the young generation's hands. It will be a great test of strength for them. Let's see how much improvement they have garnered in their cultivation."

With that, the elder left to call up the other leaders of the clans and prepare for the possible conflict. It seemed that the once quiet Feihua Mountains were ready to become a battle site and the Xian family sat in the middle of it all, without any fear for what was yet to come.